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news.Shares in Serono have risen by almost 3% after the company signed a worldwide agreement with Syntonix Pharmaceuticals, to develop and commercialize an inhaleable interferon-beta therapy for multiple sclerosis.
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Under the agreement, Serono has licensed worldwide exclusive rights to Syntonix’ Transceptor and Synfusion technologies for the development and commercialization of interferon-beta:Fc products.
Syntonix’ technologies may enable the development of an interferon-beta therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) that can be administered by inhalation. In in vivo experiments, a proprietary interferon-beta:Fc molecule produced by Syntonix exhibited pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties that justify further development.
Serono currently markets Rebif, a high-dose, high-frequency interferon beta-1a therapy for relapsing forms of MS, which is administered three times weekly via subcutaneous injection. Rebif is the leading treatment for MS outside the US and the fastest growing treatment for MS in the US.
“We believe that interferon-beta:Fc represents a promising approach to enable delivery of interferon beta-1a by inhalation, and has the potential to provide an easier way to administer therapy in the future,” said Tim Wells, head of research at Serono.
Under the terms of the agreement, Serono will be responsible for all further development and commercialization of the product. Syntonix will receive an upfront license fee and will be eligible for development milestones and royalties upon commercialization.